Gen2 set to release first album

Schmidt said the band began in Kilmore and was officially established in Melbourne in 2016.

Schmidt, who described himself as a “hired gun”, had been playing music worldwide before forming Gen2.

“I’ve been at this for a long time, flying to the US, Europe and the UK ... appearing on albums and filling in for people on tour,” he said.

He said his idea of Gen2 was to create a band that brought together the best of the old with the best of the new.

“I wanted to put together a band with our son,” Schmidt said.

“So it was two generations — Gen2.

“He was drumming, but he went off to do his professional career.”

Schmidt said they had some good songs, so after his son pursued his career, he got his best mate out of retirement to drum with his band.

“We got two younger guys who joined the band about eight years ago,” he said.

“They’ve kind of grown up in the band.

“It’s really still two generations.”

Schmidt said there was about 18 months’ worth of production in Gen2’s album Future History Repeating.

“The album is a good cross-section of pretty much everything we do,” he said.

Gen2 has also just signed with a new record label, 37 South Records. The band’s previous singles Fire of Love, Love You to Death and a cover of Lorde’s Royals have been re-released and the album’s lead single is set to drop in April.

“The first three singles are out now and will all appear on that album,” Schmidt said.

“The new single is called O.I.S.O.S.

“We’re not telling anyone what the acronym means for a while.

“That’s just part of the fun.”

He said the song’s theme was “marching to the beat of a different drum”.

“I wrote it as a song for people who don’t just quite fit in,” he said.

“It’s about being an individual and just being who you are.

“I always like to try and at least write rock that’s got some sort of positivity behind it.”

The album is set to release mid-year.

“We’re really excited,” Schmidt said.

He said it had been “magic” between the new record deal, the release of the new album and coming together as a band eight years ago.

“We’ve often said no matter what kind of day or week you’re having, we hit the studio,” Schmidt said.

“By the time we finish the first song, we’re all smiling ... and away we go because you can just feel it.”

Schmidt thanked the band’s loyal listeners and encouraged everyone to listen to the new album.

“We need that support so we can keep going and growing,” he said.

“Then, we can go out and, you know, come and play.

“We want people to actually engage with the band.”

Future History Repeating will be available on all streaming platforms.